Automatic pressure control



G. A. ERQQKE. JR

AUTOMATIC PRESSURE CONTROL Filed Aug. 4, 1921 Patented July l?, 1223.

UNITE@ STATES GERG A. BROOKE, JB., OF GEREHANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

A'U'EGHATIC PRESSURE CONTR'DL.

Application tiled August 4, 1921. Serial No. 489,916.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, GEORGE A. BROOKE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Germantown, in the county of lhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Automatic Pressure Control, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to automatic pressure control. The invention is especially applicable to combustion control. The object, in which case, being to control automatically the combustion, by utilizing the pressure in the combustion chamber to regulate or control automatically, `for example, damper, or draft. The invention is especially applicable for regulating the inlet of air which passes through the fuel bed.

The invention comprises improvements in pressure responsive devices and the method of operating the same.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate merely by way of example suitable means for effecting my invention:

Fig. l is a section on line 1, l or Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly broken away, showing the buoyant elements in diderent positions.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In these drawings l have shown the chambered body 9 'ormmg a receptacle for liquid. From the top or cover 10 a partition or apron 11 projects downwardly to'near the bottom of the chamber, so as to dip in to the liquid contained therein. The partition 11 thus forms a liquid sealed partition between the compartments 12 and 13. Beneath the chambered body i) is provided a channel forming body 11, having a channel or passage 15 provided with a port as at 16 for connection with a conductor 17 leading from the combustion chamber or space or re ion from which the pressure to be utilize is derived.

To one end of channel 'l5 is connected the vupwardly extending pipe 18 open et the top within compartment 12 and within' the buoyant element 21. To the other end of channel 15 is connected the upwardly extending pipe or conductor 19 open at the top, within compartment 13, outside the buoyant element. Another pipe 20 extends upwardly through the bottom of compartment 13, open et the top within the buoyant element 22,

and at the bottom communicating with atmosphere. Within the chambered body 9 is provided the balanced buoyant structure comprisin the bells or buoyant elements 21 and 22 rigidly secured together by thc curved connecting frame 23, extending at its middle portion beneath the lower edge of partition 11, and consequently beneath the level of the liquid contained in the chamber. lt will thus be seen that the gas pressure through pipe 18 is delivered beneath the element 21, while the space in compartment 12, about and above element 21, is open to atmosphere by means of openings 26.

The gas pressure through pipe 19 is delivered into compartment 13, about element 22. This compartment 13 is not in communication with atmospheric pressure.

Pipe 2O which extends upwardly through the bottom of compartment 13, maintains the space within element 22, above the level of the liquid, in communication with atmosphere. ln other words the gas pressure is beneath element 21 while atmospheric pressure is above it in compartment 12, while atmospheric pressure is beneath element 22 while gas pressure is above it, in compartment 13. The result is that said change of pressure is dircctl e'ective with respect to each of a pair of buoyant elements, secured together and pivotally mounted in opposite directions on each side of their axis of movement, but in the same direction of their rotative movement.

lo the connecting frame 23 is secured the supporting shaft member 2A, journaled preierably on pivot points in bearings 25, at each end of the shaft.

This shaft 24 extends through openings 26 in the walls of compartment 12. To shaft 24 is secured the controlling lever 27.

Merely by way of example this lever 27, as indicated, is connected in an electric circuit and is adapted to cooperate with. the electrical contacts 28 and 29; that is 'to say, when actuated by the buoyant structure, to engage with one or the other of said contacts. This results in the closing of one or the other of two electric circuits. The closing of one circuit causes the operation of a motor in one direction, and thc closing of the other circuit causes said operation in the opposite direction to actuate, Kfor example a valve or damper or other pressure control device in a manner' well known in the ling The details of such an arrangement art.

form nov part of the present invention and are therefore not shcvvn.v This invention is confined to the improved method and means for utilizing the pressure derived from a given region to actuate any suitable contrzoller, such for example the contact lever f) As means for adjustment, with respect to the change in pressure required to cause the actuation of the controller lever 27, the wei lits 27 and 27" are provided, threaded on t 1e lever 27 and adapted to be moved toward or away from the axis of said lever 27.

There is also provided an adjustable Weight or counterbalance 8l, threaded, or secured by the set-screw 32, or both, on the arm 83 fixed to the shaft member 24.

The weights 27 and 27 are adjusted with respect to the pressure desired to be maintained.

The couuterbalance 31 is adjustedr to compensate in part for the change in buoyancy of the buoyant elements when moved from normal. position by any change in pressure.

This wei ht 3l is normally held in neutral position. v hen pressure is exerted upon the buoyant elements, vtending for example to lift element 12 out of the liquid, its buoyancy 1s reduced which tends to counteract the action of said exerted pressure, correspondingly as pressure is exerted. on element i3, tending to cause its further immersion, its buoyancy increases, and thus it tends to react correspondingly against said pressure. This tendency of the elements to react against said enerted pressures is, to the required degree, counterbalanced by the Weight 31. For er;- ample as the arm 33 is tilted out of the vertical, the weight 3l, being properly adjusted, as it moved out of the said vertical or neutral position, exerts pressure upon the buoyant elements 'to compensate in part 'for their change in buoyancy, so that the desired length of stroke for any given change in pressure may be secured by said adjustment.

As long as the liquid is of sufficient level to maintain the seal with `the elements, ifts change in level affects oppositely but equally the buoyancy of each oi' both elements, so that such change or variation of liquid level does not impair the balance or adjustment of the device.

In operation:

It will be obvious, from the above description, that when there is an abnormal pressure in the region desired to be controlled, the elements will respond, causing the movement of the controller in one direction to effect the pressure control as above indicated. When there is a subnormal pressure in said region the buo 'ant structure Will be actuated to move tne controller in the opposite direction.

What I claim. isc-r 1. The method of automatic pressure control, which consists in utilizing variations from normal of the pressure in a `.ven region, acting directly, but in opposite directions, upon two connected pressure responsive devices to actuate a controller.

2. The method of automatic pressure control, which consists in utilizing variations from normal of the pressure in a given region, acting directly, but in the same rotative direction, upon each of two connected buoyant elements to actuate a controller.

3. The method of automatic pressure control Which consists in utilizing variations from normal of the pressure in a given region, acting directly, but in opposite directions, upon two connected buoyant elements to actuate a controller, and utilizing a balancing force, becoming effective upon the movement of the buoyant elements, to compensate tor variations inv immersion.

a. The method of automatic pressure control, which consists in utilizing variations from normal of the pressure in a given region to cause the actuation oit a pair of rigidly connected buoyant elements, said actuating pressure acting directly upon each buoyant element and cooperating with, buoyancy as to one and in opposition to buoyancy as to the other buoyant element.

5. The method of automatic pressure control, which consists in utilizing variations from normal of the pressure in a given region, acting directly, but in opposite directions, upon two connected buoyant elements to actuate a controller, and utilizing a gravity actuated force, becoming eiiective upon movement from normal of the buoyant elcments, to compensate in part for changes in buoyancy.

6. The method oir automatic pressure con-- trol, which consists in utilizing variations from normal of the pressure in a. given region, acting directly', but in opposite directions, upon two connected buoyant elements to actuate a controller, utilizing a gravity actuated force, becoming effective upon movement from normal of the buoyant elements, to compensate in part for chances in buoyancy, and utilizing and adjusting gravity actuated forces for determining the normal pressure to be maintained in said given region.

7. In an automatic control, the combination of a pair of cooperating buoyant elements, and means for communicating' directly to each eleme the pressure of a given region, said pressure exerted afainst buoyancy as to one element and wit the buoyancy as to the other.

8. In an automatic pressure control, the combination of a pair of cooperating buoyant elements, means for communicating directly to each element the pressure of a 'ven region, seid pressure exerted against uoyancy to one element and with the buoyancy as to the other, and so that variations from normal of said pressure shall actuate said buoyant elements.

9. In an automatic pressure control, the combination of a pair of cooperating buo ant elements, means for communicating rectly to each element the pressure of a given region, said pressure exerted against buoyancy as to one element and with the buoyancy as to the other, and so that variations from normal of said pressure shall actuate said buoyant elements, both in the same rotative direction.

10. In an automatic pressure control, the combination of a pair of cooperating pivotally mounted buoyant elements, and means for communicating directly to each element the pressure of a given region, said pressure exerted in the same rotative direction as to each buoyant element.

11. In an automatic pressure control, the combination of a pair of cooperating pivotally mounted buoyant elements, and means for communicating directly to each element the pressure of a given region, said pressure exerted in the same rotative direction as to each buoyant element, said elements being so shaped as to have a constant cooperative action, with variation of the liquid level.

12. In an automatic pressure control, the combination of a pair of cooperating buoyant elements, and means for communicating to each element the pressure of a given region, said pressure exerted against buoyancy as to one element and with the buoyancy as to the other, and a balancing device normally ineffective for compensatin in part for change in buoyancy when sai elements are actuated.

13. In an automatic pressure control, the combination of a pair of cooperating buoyant elements, and means for communicating directly to each element the pressure of a given region, said pressure exerted against buoyancy as to one element and with the buoyancy as to the other, and so that variations from normal of said pressure shall actuate said buoyant elements, and adjustable devices Jfior determining the pressure which shall be considered normal in said region.

14. In an automatic pressure control, the combination of a pair of cooperating buoyant elements and air gate, controller therefor, and means for communicating directly to both buoyant elements the pressure of a given region, so that variations from normal of said pressure shall actuate the buoyant elements and the controller.

15. In an automatic pressure control, the combination of a pair of cooperating buoyant elements, an a1r gate, a controller therefor, and means for communicating directly to both buoyant elements the pressure of a given region, so that variations from normal of said pressure shall actuate the buoyant elements and the controller, said buoyant elements having outer submergible Walls in arcs o their axis of movement.

16. In an automatic controlling device, the combination of a liquid container, 'separated into two compartment by av liquid sealed partition, a buoyant device having an element operating in each compartment, means for communicating pressure from a given region to beneath one element and to above the other element, and adjustable means in connection with said buoyant device, for predetermining the normal pressure in said region, variations from which are to be effective in respect to the actuation of the buoyant device.

GEORGE A. BROOKE, JR. 

